60 years of the Fender Stratocaster

The Fender Stratocaster, an American cultural icon, turns 60 this year. Beloved the world over by rock stars, bluesmen and garage bands alike, the Strat is here to stay.

April 18, 2014 9:08 AM

Photo: Nigel Osbourne, Getty Images

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Jimi Hendrix set his on fire. Buddy Holly made it swing. Stevie Ray Vaughn made it snarl.

Some of the most legendary guitarists in music history have elicited unforgettable sounds from the Fender Stratocaster, the distinctive double-cutaway guitar born in a small Fullerton, Calif., workshop 60 years ago this month.

Pictured above is the very first Strat: a 1954 Fender Stratocaster, serial number 0001, owned by David Gilmour of Pink Floyd.
Take a look at some of the most famous (and infamous) guitarists who have embraces the American cultural icon.